Cher says her romance with Alexander 'A.E.' Edwards took her "completely by surprise".

The 'Believe' hitmaker, 77, was not looking for love when the 37-year-old music executive came into her life.

She told Parade magazine: "It took me completely by surprise. I mean, it was ridiculous. I wasn't looking for it at all. It just happened."

And she was blown away when her partner presented her with a diamond ring last Christmas.

She said: "Christmas morning, he gave me a bag and it had these beautiful handmade books and a beautiful pen—just amazing!

"And then he went, 'Oh, wait, I forgot this one.' And I opened it up and there was the most amazing diamond ring I'ye ever seen."

Cher recently admitted she has a “great” time with A.E.

She gushed to ‘Extra’: "I hate to talk about how happy I am, but no, we have a great time together. We can talk music. We can talk about everything. He’s a got a great sense of humour, he’s got the cutest son in the world, ever… We just get each other.”

However, the ‘Turn Back Time’ hitmaker admitted their 40-year age gap is sometimes highlighted in their discussions.

She said: “Sometimes I’m talking to him and he has no idea who I’m talking about. The other day, I said, ‘Do you know who, I don’t know, [1940s Hollywood star] Clark Gable, [is]?’ Somebody said, ‘Yes, of course,’ but most of my references… He’ll look at me and go, ‘I wasn’t born yet.'"